Police have named the victim of last night’s suspected road-rage stabbing attack in Findon as 79-year-old grandfather Donald Lock, from Worthing.

They said that at about 8.40pm yesterday, Mr Lock was driving south on the A24 when he struck the rear of a car that was also travelling south, just past the junction with the Black Horse pub on the A24 at Findon. Mr Lock got out of his vehicle and was confronted by the driver of the other vehicle, who stabbed him repeatedly. The offender then got back into his car and drove away south on the A24.

Mr Lock, from Worthing, suffered multiple stab wounds. Despite paramedics working on him at the scene, he died shortly afterwards. The attacker is described as white, aged between 30 and 40, about 6ft and skinny. He had shoulder length brown or dark blonde hair and a thin face. Officers are carrying out house-to-house inquiries in the area and looking for anyone who could have any information that could help identify exactly what happened. They are also appealing for anyone who has CCTV at their home or business that covers the A24 between the Offington roundabout at Worthing and the Long Furlong roundabout at Findon. In addition anyone that has a vehicle with a dashboard camera who was in the area at the time is asked to come forward.

Detective Superintendent Adam Hibbert, of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: “Mr Lock was the victim of a frenzied attack that he had no chance to defend himself against. The attacker has then driven off but at this stage we have a limited description of his vehicle. We are looking for an extremely dangerous man and need the public’s help to identify and arrest him urgently.

“I am appealing for anyone who has any information about what happened to come forward immediately, no matter how unimportant you might think it is. It could be vital to our investigation. The attacker’s vehicle is likely to have suffered minor damage to the rear. The attacker is likely to have had a substantial amount of blood on him after the murder. This could also be on his vehicle. Are you suspicious of someone who came home after 8.40pm last night and had blood on them or wa acting suspiciously? Or were you expecting someone last night who did not come home? If you have any suspicions about someone, do not challenge them but instead call 999.”

The A24 is likely to remain closed at Findon for the foreseeable future while the investigation continues. Diversions are in place. Anyone with information should call 101 quoting Operation Wise, email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

The scene remains cordoned off SUS-150717-120445001

As the news of the murder broke this morning, villagers living nearby spoken of their shock to the stabbing, which has rocked the ‘sleepy, quiet’ community.

Albert Woodvine, has lived in The Chase, just behind murder scene. The 89-year-old said: “It’s shocking. Anything like that is just disturbing. It’s such a waste of life through someone losing their temper.”

Mr Woodvine, who has lived in the village for almost 12 years said he had never heard of anything like this ever happening there.

He added that he first saw the police while driving his wife, Pamela, to the gym.

It’s such a waste of life through someone losing their temper.

Shocked resident Albert Woodvine, 89

“I was in the car. That’s when I first saw the barriers. I saw the tapes that were cordoning the road off and the there were around half a dozen police officers there,” he said.

Grandfather-of-three, Rodney Holderness, who lives elsewhere in The Chase, said he was saddened by the news.

“Findon is such a sleepy place and quiet place,” he said, “I just can’t believe this has happened.”

However, for some neighbours this was not their first experience witnessing a murder investigation taking place.

A male cyclist and a woman embrace following the man's death

One former police officer, who asked not to be named, said she had a chill in her stomach when she saw the police cordon last night.

The 39-year-old mother-of-one, who retired from Sussex Police two years ago after working in Brighton for 11 years, said: “In all my years on the job I don’t expect that to happen a few hundred yards from where I live.

A 79-year-old man was stabbed to death at Findon. PICTURE BY EDDIE MITCHELL

The Chase resident added that her worried husband had called her when he heard there was an incident taking place.

“All he knew was that there was a serious accident close to home, and he knew that I would be coming back at that time,” she said. “As soon as I saw the cordon and the police response I knew it was extremely serious.

“The whole thing is just awful. My heart goes out to the man’s family, it really does because there is no easy way to go and tell the family that this has happened.

“It’s hard enough when someone has died in an accident or of natural causes. But this, this is just horrible.”

Christine Cook, 88, also of The Chase, was shocked by the attack, which happened yards away from her home.

She said: “I was on the phone in the lounge and I’ve got patio windows and I said to the friend, oh I don’t know what’s happening in Findon tonight, I think it’s the police helicopter going round and round.”

Neighbour Pete Beale, 63, described seeing police and paramedics working at the scene when he went to have a look at the site at about 11.15pm.

This morning, police and media remain at the road, which is cordoned off with blue and white police tape.

Detectives hunting for the killer believe the suspect fled the scene of the attack.

He is described as white, aged between 30 and 40, 6ft, skinny with shoulder length brown wavy hair with a thin face.

His car is described as a pale coloured old-style vehicle.

Detective Chief Inspector Karen Mizzi of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team said: “Officers have been urgently making enquiries overnight to trace the suspect.

“We need to hear from witnesses who saw the collision, the suspect or the car involved, particularly if anyone filmed the incident or saw anyone filming it.”